(VOVworld)- The ratio of ethnic minority participation in people-elected agencies has increased in recent years. In the upcoming election to the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils, a number of measures have been put in place to increase the number of ethnic minority deputies.
In the last 4 tenures of the Vietnamese National Assembly, the ratio of ethnic minority deputies accounted for between 15.6% and 17% of total NA deputies. In the upcoming election to the NA, 204 of 870 candidates are from ethnic minority groups, accounting for 23.45%, according to the National Electoral Council. About 18% of the deputies in Provincial People’s Councils in the 2011-2016 term were ethnic minorities and 20% at the communal level.
Contributions by ethnic minority deputies
During previous last tenures, ethnic minority deputies contributed to the NA’s resolutions, especially those concerning ethnic minority affairs. In its 13th tenure, the NA closely followed the implementation of policies and regulations on the management and use of land in state-owned farms. At this tenure, for the first time, Minister and Head of the Ethnic Council, Giang Seo Phu, held a Q&A session explaining issues relating to the Socio-Economic Development Program for especially disadvantaged communes in ethnic and mountain regions. The issues included resettlement in disaster-prone areas, free migration, vocational training, residential and production land for ethnic minorities.
Difficulties facing ethnic minority candidates
The ratio of ethnic minority deputies in people-elected agencies has increased in recent years but not all the ethnic minority groups have representatives. The intellectual standard of ethnic minority people is low while their economic and social conditions remain difficult. Many people are illiterate. So, it’s difficult to explain the elections. Hoang Quoc Khanh of Giay ethnicity in Lai Chau province is running for election for the first time. He says that although he was trained to participate in the election, he faces a lot of difficulties in collecting information, campaigning, developing action programs and persuading voters. Khanh says: “In the mountain regions, we have limited access to information. In addition, the intellectual standard of ethnic minority people is unequal, so it’s difficult for me to make them understand my message and carry out campaigning”.
Skill training for ethnic minority candidates
Nguyen Lam Thanh, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council says the election results will depend much on the selection of candidates and campaigning. He said the National Assembly’s Ethnic Council and the National Electoral Council have organized several training courses on campaigning for ethnic minority candidates. Thanh said: “Many candidates are from ethnic minority, remote and mountain regions. The training courses aim to provide them with knowledge and experience in campaigning so that they can win the elections”.
Training is important for ethnic minority candidates to win the elections. More support is needed to increase the number of ethnic minority deputies at people-elected agencies in the near future.